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Hardeep Singh Kohli

Hardeep Singh Kohli. The year was 1969. Men walked on the moon, the first episode of Dad's Army was screened and Yasser Arafat was elected leader of the PLO. Three unrelated events, you might think. And you would be right.

It was also the year that saw the birth of Hardeep Singh Kohli, the reason why you read that initial preposterous paragraph. He cannot remember any of those aforementioned events he was very young.

Hardeep spent his formative years learning to walk, eat and debate vociferously whilst employing sarcasm. Having mastered theses skills and those of bossing the midfield of a football game, Hardeep headed for school. It was the law in Scotland.

He spent ten happy years with Jesuits, coincidentally in a Jesuit school in Glasgow, the city of his up-bringing. Law school beckoned, Glasgow University and Hardeep was thankful for his grounding in walking, eating and debating vociferously whilst employing sarcasm. Whilst studying diligently by day, by night he worked at the Citizens Theatre and managed various restaurants in Glasgow. There he managed to nurture, develop and indulge two of his greatest life passions food and drama. Unfortunately it was food in the theatre and no end of drama in the restaurants.

Upon graduation Hardeep was offered a job at BBC Radio Scotland in the heady days of quarter inch and razor blades. (younger, hipper readers should note that quarter and inch and razor blades were a legal broadcasting pastime and not 'backstage' at Oasis type of activity.) Soon he was chosen as one of only a handful of prestigious BBC graduate production trainees and was to be preened for greatness. At least that what it said in the advert

Two years of training around every department of the BBC was followed by a move to London's Televison Centre to direct Children's TV. Hardeep was studio directing at 21 years of age. Then off to Series Direct and present for Janet Street Porter in Manchester on Reportage. Back to London to direct the RTS and BAFTA winning show It'll Never Work. The call of the free world beckoned the erstwhile BBC boy. He jumped.

A while spent in development and directing commercials, Hardeep gave vent to his greatest passion, that of writing. He wrote various short films, screenplays and comedies and managed to make a handful, some of which won awards, some of which got shown all over the world. He wrote and directed for BBC drama, ITV drama and was commissioned to write, direct and star in a Comedy lab for Channel 4. The Comedy Lab was a hit and soon a series was commissioned, Meet the Magoons as part of Channel 4's Friday Night Prime Time Comedy slot.

Meanwhile he had started contributing on the radio. Radio 4's Front Row, Radio 3's Night Waves, London Live( formerly GLR), The BBC Asian Network, BBC Radio Scotland. But it was on BBC Radio 5 Live Hardeep made most impact. Now there are many myths in this business we call show but here is the absolute truth. Hardeep got to be a guest on Nicky Campbell's morning phone-in by buying the assistant editor, planning producer and their non-BBC friend copious pints of Guinness in a pub called The Toucan on Carlisle Street W1. Clearly at the time he was unaware of their broadcasting status and was merely breaking a twenty pound note and being Glaswegian

That chance Guinness-based happening led to Hardeep appearing on almost every show across the network. Be it guesting on Simon Mayo, Bannister or doing the paper review for Weekend Breakfast, Hardeep soon became a stalwart at 5 Live. But how much more Guinness could he buy? BBC Management felt it good and right to let the boy spread his wings and sure enough Hardeep started presenting Up All Night on BBC Radio 5 Live. And boy, how he loves it.

And while that was all going on Hardeep wrote and presented a one-off documentary, In Search of the Tartan Turban for Channel 4 TV. The show was nominated for an RTS and won a BAFTA. Now what are the chances of that? Hardeep was commissioned to write and present a five part documentary show with Tiger Aspect, about contemporary Britain called Hardep Does and he fronted More4's flagship panel show The Last Word which was discussion based with an alternative take on top ten news stories, with lively debate and the occasional diatribe.

So what can you about Hardeep? He's good at walking, eating and debating vociferously whilst employing sarcasm. He's quite tall, fairly broad, loves comedy, food, fashion and football and seems to get on quite well with people all sorts of people. He has good skin and moves well to mid tempo music for a man of his stature.

Hardeep was for some time a regular presenter on BBC's topical current affairs programme The One Show. He still props up on Questions Time now and again, as he always has something to say on current affairs.

2008 saw the launch of his new book ''Indian Takeaway'' One Man's Attempt to Cook His Way Home. Hardeep attempted to take British food to India - with hilarious results. He loves many things in life - but none more than food. He loves to eat it, he loves to cook it. So when he decided to travel round India, searching for his roots, what seemed the obvious thing to take with him? Not a Lonely Planet. Not a BBC camerateam. No. Shepherds pie and yorkshire pudding. But of course! Indian Takeaway is the hilarious story of Hardeep's attempts to cook his way round India, dishing up very British meals for the people he meets. How will Goan fishermen, Bollywood film crews and Bangalore call centres cope with treacle pudding and cock-a-leekie soup? Will they survive to tell the tale? Will Hardeep find the India he is searching for through his recipe book? And will he find himself along the way? Hilarious, strange and true, Indian Takeaway is a book for everyone who loves to cook, or longs to travel, or for anyone who wants to spend a few hours in the company of one singularly warm-hearted and entertaining man.

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